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Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Next Pattern To Be Released and Health Update

I missed wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas! I hope you all had a wonderful time with your loved ones. I sure did. This Christmas was extra special to me. I feel so thankful, so grateful and full of joy. Life is good!

Due to recent health issues and time spent in the hospital, I haven't been able to crochet much at all since September. It put me behind in all my pattern plans! But that's okay, I have all of 2017 to catch up.

I have posted a few updates on facebook, if you missed those, I'm getting better and feeling much better. I had a scary case of double pneumonia and a very bad case of inflammation throughout my body. I was on oxygen for about 2 and 1/2 weeks. My legs, feet and face puffed right up. I actually went into congestive heart failure at one point, which was the absolute scariest time of my life.
I'm only 46 years old, I don't drink, smoke, or eat really bad foods and I ended up with congestive heart failure, really? Even more scary, the doctors could not figure out why this happened! They have called this a mystery. I am happy to say though, I'm on the mend now. The CHF was only temporary, thank God.

Before I left the hospital I had to have fluid drained from around my lungs. They removed a 1/2 a litre! That procedure was so scary for me. I felt so very scared heading into that room but honestly it wasn't that bad at all. If you're facing that procedure, please know it's not at all as scary as it seems. It's relatively painless and is over so quick!

I still have a little bit of collapsed lung, I'm hoping that will right itself soon. I haven't told many people about all the bad things that happened while I was in the hospital. There really was so much more that happened, so many scary days. All the anxiety involved and things my children had to go through that I haven't shared here. Now that things are getting better, I don't mind sharing, maybe one day I'll share it all. I hope this shortened version of events will help at least one person out there!

Since I've been home I put myself on an anti-inflammatory diet which I think help save my life. I say "put myself on it" as the doctors didn't have any diet advice for me. They have no clue when it comes to foods that effect/cause inflammation. We're really on our own once we're home. It's one of those things we have to figure out for ourselves.
I don't eat any processed foods, no sugar, no dairy. I eat only fish, veggies, fruit and nuts. And I drink lots of water. Google is a great tool for looking up foods that are inflammatory or anti-inflammatory.

I start every morning with a glass of warm water and 1/2 a lemon squeezed into it a with 1/4 tsp of honey. That replaced my morning coffee! I never would have believe this a few months ago, lol I'm a coffee lover but the inflammation is almost all gone now! (That's not because I replaced the coffee, it's mostly because of my new diet).
Last week my blood test showed my crp levels down to 6. That's down from 160!
160 is extremely dangerous and a sign of something bad happening in the body. The doctors kept thinking I was getting lupus but there's no sign of that now. Anyone dealing with inflammation will know what this all means. I wish I didn't have to know, but maybe it will help somebody out there reading this. If you're battling inflammation, please please please, look up the anti inflammatory diet. Try it out, it might help you too. I believe it will.

I am currently tapering off of steroids. I was on 50mg and now down to 13mg. I'll be tapering into the new year. I was told that I would gain weight like crazy while on steroids but I can tell you I've lost weight. That is due to my diet, no doubt about that! I will soon be free of steroids, what a horrible drug. They help save my life but they do have wicked side effects as some of you will sadly know.

With all that said, I'm heading into the new year with renewed love of life! I'm believing 2017 will be a great year, a healthy year, a year full of joy!

So with all that going on, I didn't make Christmas gifts this year, only one! It was for my mother who was by my side this entire time. She never left me. She even moved into my house once I was released from the hospital and cared for me for a whole month! She also cared for my children. I owe her so much but she says I owe her nothing. Isn't that just like a mom?

My mother has a horrible phobia of mice and rats, which is unfortunate since I make them, lol I really do! I make miniature rodents for my dollhouse. I post them on my other facebook page if you want to check them out right here. My mother can't stand them, she'll shiver and say "Get them away!" Poor mommy. I thought the best thing I could make her is a mouse she could really love! What better than a fluffy, soft Angel Mouse with a cloud stuck at the end of its tail? And I named it after her too, Mary.

Along with the mouse I wrote a little story, personal to mom. Her sister Joyce passed away in 2012. They were the best of friends. We talk about Joyce all the time so it was fitting to include her into the story.
Then the part of mice that really bother mom is their tails, their long creepy tails. I wanted to make that part better for her! I will be making a wee bible for this card to fit into.

Mary the Angel Mouse will be the next pattern to be released. I have it almost ready for publishing, just a few more photos and it'll be yours for the making.UPDATE! The pattern is now available, free here.

11 comments:

So glad to hear you are over this horrid spell of health problems. I suffer from chronic fatigue and find crochet so beneficial as it's great to be able to be creative when you have to rest a lot! I already follow most of the diet you talk of but think I could improve it and will be googling it! I love you patterns thank you so much -I am going to make your bunny next!

Glad to hear you are starting to feel better again. That must have been a very scary time. I wish you all the best for a happy and healthy 2017!And Mary Mouse looks very adorable, but I like mice anyway.

OMG! Sharon you have really had a horrible time of it lately! I hope you're on the mend. My mum has to have that procedure and she's terrified so I'll tell her it's not as bad as it seems, 1/2 a litre! Wow! Your wee mouse is adorable, seriously cute I'm sure your mum will love her and you story too. Take care of yourself and all the best for the new year xx

Oh, your poor mom. Yes please, let her know it's super scary and that's totally normal. I actually had sweat dripping off my hands and I got a little dizzy just sitting in that room, waiting. I dreaded it so very much.BUT they gave a needle first to numb the area then after that I didn't feel anything! A small bandaid over that and I was out of there so quick. I think in total it was 15 minutes.

I don't know if your mom has any inflammation around her lungs but if she does please also tell her that afterwards there is a chance it will set of nerve pain. That's what happened to me (because of the inflammation only) and nobody could figure out how to fix that pain. They tried everything, like morphine, tylenal 3's and it didn't take the pain away. Until hours later one doctor by chance knew what to do. He gave me a super ibuprofen called Ketoralac,(I think it has a different name in the hospital.. like Toteral?? sp??). It was the kind they gave as a needle in my butt, lol it worked! 30 minutes and the pain was gone!

I told my mother if ever I can pass on this type of info and help somebody then it was worth it all. I hate to see anyone suffer needlessly.

Sharon,I'm so glad you are feeling better! I also had a bout with inflammation, they diagnosed me with Lupus and for many months I was on steroids. Then they put me on Methatrexate, at truly nasty drug but it did the trick and now I'm in remission. Take solace in that you give so much joy to people with all your wonderful patterns. Because of you I have found a hobby that I truly enjoy! Thank you so much for all you do and I hope your recovery is speedy!

So glad to hear you are getting over such a scary ordeal and that your mother was there to be by your side and to help you. Moms~ if they aren't helping you out they're driving you nuts! ;) It's their job. That's what I keep telling my husband. Thanks for the cute pattern.

Sharon, I am so happy you are getting better, I wish for you and your family a wonderful 2017!What a beautiful gift for your mother I am sure she will love Mary the angel not only because is pretty and cute also because carries a lovely message from you and her sister.Blessings

Don't know why I never saw this story of yours.had been wondering what illness u had and prayed it wasn't the dreaded C word..so glad u r on the mends and back doing what u love...I had a 45 min procedure that ended up being 4 1/2 hrs and I died on the table for a minute and they revived me and continued on..it makes u really appreciate the lil things and what's most important and not worry about the other things that really doesn't matter...u r such a inspiration as a human being and also the talents god gave u...I'm sooo glad everything is ok with u now..I feel u have so much more to show and give...u have created a addict of learning your talent of gnome houses and I thank u for sharing everything u do...may God continue to bless u and your family!!!!

Sharon, I simply love your work...and you. I have printed many patterns and I ALWAYS come back to yours. They are very easy for people like me.. OLD! I wonder how all you guys learned to crochet all the different stuff. When I started to crochet 45 years ago, it was blanket, bedspread...etc,I am so glad you are feeling better. Prayers coming your way. My husband is about to undergo bladder cancer surgery. Please pray for him.